Hi!!

Does anybody know how to backup the Account settings of MS Outlook 2003 so I don't have to reacreate all of them when reinstalling windows?

They are separate from the .pst file, or the rules backup file... I can't figure where they are stored...

I've been looking everywhere for days to find out how to do exactly what you describe - move Outlook accounts from one computer to another, or to simply back up email accounts. Versions of Outlook preceding 2002 had a feature built in for this, but beginning with 2002 there is no feature. Plus it appears that Microsoft has mercilessly hidden its means of storing Outlook accounts from anyone who might be trying to find them.

During my search I found no "manual" solutions, but I did find several third-part programs to do the job, which leads me to believe that Microsoft made deals with third-party developers that led to the exclusion of the account export feature in newer versions of Outlook.

Nevertheless I was determined to find out how to do it, since there must be a way, and I did, and here it is. It's not pretty but it's also not too difficult.

Open your registry editor and navigate to the following key:

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1343024091-507921405-725345543-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\Outlook

Export the entire Outlook key to a file. You've now backed up your email accounts. To restore the backup to another computer, simply import the backup into the new computer's registry. You may need to delete the Outlook key off the new computer first.

Hope you all find this useful

In Outlook Express, it was possible to export the account settings in .iaf files. You had to go to Tools -> Accounts -> Mail & then for each mail account click on Export.

I've never used Office Outlook but isn't there a similar option ?

Nope, theres no option for that. And nothing documented that stores the files.

Has anyone tried what I suggested above? I'd be interested to know if it worked.

One thing I forgot to add: the name of that long key beginning with S under HKEY_USERS will be different for every computer/user. But it should begin with the letter S and be followed by a long string of numbers and hyphens (-).

Note also that there are two such keys, identical except that one ends in "_classes" and the other does not. The one WITHOUT the _classes is the one you're looking for.

Make sure you have "Show Hidden Files and Folders" selected on Folder Options, under Tools:

Then, go to Documents and Settings\username (user's profile folder)\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Copy all the files in that folder for each profile settinmg you want to save, and save them for each use.

After making all the changes you are planning - copy those files back into the same folder under each user's profile.

It's not a perfect or automated way to do it, but it works.

Registry Export Almost Works

Before using DuxAranea's method, I think you first have to copy the folder information for each account (.pst). The method works, or almost does. It transfered the settings but I had to retype all of my passwords. Also, I had Outlook installed on drive D: on my laptop and drive E: on my desktop. So, I had to redirect Outlook to the correct drive/folder for each account. It was a lot easier than reentering everything but still tedious.
Does anyone know where the passwords are stored?
The following URL gives the location of most files used to store Outlook options, email folders and rules but won't help much with account settings.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP030822101033.aspx

Lowmans advice will not transfer account settings.

You might find this useful.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/r...Query=outlook personal folders backup utility

Found a program that will move account settings

Checkout http://www.backsettings.com/outlook-backup.html
The Backrex program is able to backup Outlook settings and restore them. The demo version should work fine for you. You only need to re-enter your e-mail account passwords.

Word of advice on this, it toasts your outlook profile if you have your default settings etc, stored on a different drive letter (i.e. \Documents and Settings is stored on C:\ in one computer and D:\ in another).

To fix this, go start, control panel, mail, show profiles, and then remove the existing profile, add a new one and do it from scratch. Kind of a shame, since the accounts actually do get carried over (but the default .pst can't be found and, as a result, outlook won't start - you can't remove it via the mail applet either)
BTW, this is for Outlook 2003, might be different for other versions.

BTW, there is a program called revelation (by some guy named snadboy) that is great for uncovering what your passwords are...

The " Import & Export account Wizard will setup "New " accounts in Outlook.by transferring from other existing email accounts.

It can do this with Outlk&exp ,Eudora
Tools>Options > Mail setup tabs.
The help files give you instruction,
Hint * read and prepare Data before you run the wizard , but this does work.

It works !

OK, I can confirm that this technique works.

Simple steps:
1. Copy the PST files
2. Copy the profile files (from Local Application Data)
3. Copy registry as given below. (Do not forget to replace the User ID with the one one the new computer. Just do a search replace in notepad)

In my case, the PST files were in different folder on the new computer. It gave me an error, and allowed me to select the files from their new location!

Am up and running on the new computer!

Thanks a lot guys.
Mohammed

Or you could just use the Microsoft Office 2003 Save My Settings Wizard in the Office 2003 Tools menu, and it would be done for you in a couple simple clicks. Run it again and point to the backed up pst to restore.

HillJack's suggestion worked great - and took about two minutes.

HOWEVER... the Save My Setting Wizard for Office 2003 saves ALL settings for ALL Office 2003 components, including some you might want to start fresh on. My .OPS file (the settings file created in the save) was over 2.5MB! If all you want is Outlook email account settings, it might be better to manually reenter or use the method posted above by DuxAranea.

Moreover,
I had a particular unique problem. I have a POP3 email account with several thousand emails lying on the server. Outlook uses some technique to allow the mails to reside on the server and yet download the newer ones.

When trying to shift to another computer, even after copying the .PST files, Outlook would start downloading all the mails from day one, which means I would have downloaded 300 MB of duplicate mails at least.

Using the technique of copying the registry, amazingly, prevented Outlook from downloading those emails, and it continued downloading only those which were new!

It would be good to know what happens in such a case when the Save settings wizard is used.

ML

I know this is an old thread but I found it and it had useful information for me and I thought I'd share what happened upgrading to Outlook 2007 (from 2003).

Basically I just backed up (exported) all my email and then I had to recreate my accounts over in 2007 (couldn't and didn't want to attempt to try to do registry changes in Vista). But the best part is usually when I set the new accounts up like this it wants to download all the email on the server (as I use that as a backup, like someone was saying earlier). This can be a mess so I did the inevitable of setting it up to all go into one folder so that it would be easier to delete. Alas though it didn't download anything that wasn't already downloaded! So it worked! And I'm happy! Thanks all!

Here's an update for Windows Vista Ultimate

For Vista, it looks like the S-1 key changes.
After installing Outlook on vista Ultimate, the key I needed was
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1426295737-716374110-2280380716-1000\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\Outlook

Naturally I had to edit the .REG file exported from my old system.

As you've probably noticed, in Vista, Documents and Settings has changed to AppData. Just find the Outlook folder under your user.

Also, as noted in one of the other replies indicated, your email account passwords get lost, you can fill them in in the dialogs that pop up during the first send and receive.

BTW, I use Roboform to store my Internet logins, so it was no problem.
Buying Roboform was one of the best investments I've made.
Try it, you'll like it.